The Human Resources Ministry has entrusted the authorities to carry out an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp).
During the winding-up of the Supply Bill 2025 debate at the committee stage on Thursday (Nov 21), Human Resources Minister Steven Sim emphasised that the government would not hesitate to take firm action against those found guilty, including dismissal or legal proceedings.
Responding to a query from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) about why HRD Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Shahul Hameed Dawood resumed his duties after being placed on leave following revelations from the Auditor-General's Report and the Public Accounts Committee, Sim clarified that the leave was granted to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct its investigation without interference.
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During the winding-up of the Supply Bill 2025 debate at the committee stage on Thursday (Nov 21), Human Resources Minister Steven Sim emphasised that the government would not hesitate to take firm action against those found guilty, including dismissal or legal proceedings.
Responding to a query from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) about why HRD Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Shahul Hameed Dawood resumed his duties after being placed on leave following revelations from the Auditor-General's Report and the Public Accounts Committee, Sim clarified that the leave was granted to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct its investigation without interference.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Mr. Jelutong has stated various issues such as audit reports and PAC reports.
00:10I would like to say here that it has never happened in the history of our country
00:16where the ministry, including the minister, the head of the executive and the KSU
00:24has taken action to report to the authorities after the reports were released.
00:35One of the SPRM reports was related to a state audit report.
00:41This has never happened before.
00:43That's one.
00:44The investigation by the SPRM, we gave the authority and space to the SPRM to get justice.
00:53Secondly, various reforms have been implemented.
00:59I don't want to repeat because I have already answered during the discussion of the report earlier this year.
01:06These reforms are to avoid the issues raised by the audit reports from happening again.
01:16So we have systems such as audit authorities, risk authorities, etc.
01:23to ensure that the level of governance is the highest in the issue of managing the HRD Corp.
01:33Thirdly, the issue of holidays.
01:44The head of HRD Corp. has informed me that in order to help or to be seen with permission,
01:55to be seen as giving full cooperation to the SPRM so that there is no disturbance,
02:04but to be seen with the truth, to send a message that we will not compromise,
02:10the head of HRD Corp. has taken a holiday during the time when the SPRM came to collect papers, etc.
02:18After that time, he returned to his duties.
02:22I think we cannot deny that Saudara Jelotong is a lawyer.
02:28Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
02:35And in this situation, there is no member or individual in HRD Corp. who has been sued in court.
02:42Even though they were sued in court, I believe that our lawyers,
02:49if they are investigated and sued, we will not ask them to take a holiday or to resign.
02:54I think that is not fair.
02:57But I have said that the investigation is handed over to the authorities.
03:01If anyone is found guilty, we will not compromise.
03:06We will not only take legal action.
03:09We will take legal action including imprisonment, punishment, etc.
03:15Thank you, Minister, for the explanation.
03:18I just want to go back to the issue of HRD Corp.
03:22I accept the explanation given by the Minister.
03:26As a lawyer, he is indeed innocent until proven guilty.
03:32But I would like to ask, what steps have been taken by all
03:37to ensure that the law that will be implemented
03:45will determine and ensure that the embezzlement of funds,
03:50embezzlement will not happen again?
04:00For example, if Syahul Hamid returns to HRD Corp,
04:05will he be made the CEO again?
04:09Shouldn't we replace him with someone else?
04:13Allow him to return to HRD Corp but perform other tasks.
04:19Does HRD Corp have the steps to appoint a new CEO?
04:26So that Syahul Hamid is allowed to perform tasks
04:30but does not become the CEO until this matter is investigated by the SPRM.
04:36That will convince the public.
04:38If not, when he returns to HRD Corp, business as usual,
04:43what's the point of discussing this matter,
04:46holding a PAC meeting, and so on?
04:52I welcome Jelutong's spirit.
04:55Because this is our spirit to fight for good governance.
05:01But I hope, not only did he mention the wrong evidence,
05:05but I also hope he will read the reports he submitted.
05:09First, the name mentioned in the report is not mentioned in the report.
05:15Second, he is not here to defend himself.
05:20And I want to say, the report we submitted to the SPRM
05:25is for all kinds of wrongdoings,
05:30especially those raised by the audit report.
05:35So, it is not necessarily that Anu is guilty.
05:40We will take firm action against anyone who is found guilty after this.
05:46But until the final report or final decision is issued by the SPRM and the authorities,
05:55I think it is not fair for us to point fingers at anyone.
06:01Furthermore, no one is charged,
06:04whether they are under the police or the court.
06:08Imagine, if we are the ones who will always be investigated by the police,
06:13the politicians as usual, or put before the court.
06:17If we follow that principle, we cannot be present in the parliament.
06:21Even though we have not yet been identified or proven guilty.
06:25So, I want to correct what has been said.
06:29I want to support the SPRM,
06:31because we want to improve the governance,
06:37but we should not be seen as oppressors.
06:43Because, as I said,
06:47we have not yet been identified or investigated.
06:50So, we have to be fair.
06:51As long as they are not found guilty, they have the right to work.
06:55Why should we leave them?
06:57These are the perceptions that have been built for the investigation.
07:00Let them make their claims,
07:02then we stop them from working.
07:04If they are guilty, then they are guilty.
07:06If they are not guilty, then we continue.
07:08This is what we do not want.
07:09Oppression,
07:10when we improve one thing,
07:12causes oppression to happen to those who are not found guilty.
07:21Actually, because of my statement,
07:24I agree with everything,
07:25including Jolotong,
07:26that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
07:29Actually, there are no names mentioned in any reports or investigations.
07:34We allow the authorities to investigate freely.
07:39It does not matter where they want to investigate.
07:41Whether it is the Chief Executive's investigation,
07:43or the lawyer's investigation,
07:45or the ordinary investigation,
07:46or even the Minister's and Chief Minister's investigation.
07:48We let them investigate.
07:50And when there is a decision,
07:53I am confident that under this co-government,
07:56we will take the heaviest punishment for those who are guilty.